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Q. Reading Deuteronomy 23:2, Is There Hope For An Illegitimate Child To Become A Christian? Are There Some People, Ethnicity's, Or Situations Beyond Hope?

Answer

1. The first thing that must be pointed out is that the words of Deuteronomy 23:2 are a part of the Old Covenant, which has been fulfilled by Jesus Christ and replaced by the New Covenant.

31 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. 33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Jeremiah 31:31-33 (NASB)

5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:5-6 (NASB)

8 For finding fault with them, He says, “BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH; 9 NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS ON THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT; FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT, AND I DID NOT CARE FOR THEM, SAYS THE LORD. 10 “FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 11 “AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN, AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, ‘KNOW THE LORD,’ FOR ALL WILL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM. 12 “FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.” 13 When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. Hebrews 8:8-13 (NASB)

19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “ThisisMybodywhichisgivenforyou;dothisinremembranceofMe.” 20 And in the same way Hetook the cup after they had eaten, saying, “ThiscupwhichispouredoutforyouisthenewcovenantinMyblood. Luke 22:19-20 (NASB)

The restrictions found in Deuteronomy 23 are no longer in effect. The restrictions we see there (and elsewhere in the Old Testament) were to assure that the line from which Messiah would come (Genesis 3:15; 12:1-3; 49:8-10; 2 Samuel 7:12-13; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Micah 5:2) would remain pure. Now that Christ, our Messiah, has come, this is no longer necessary.

10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “CURSEDISEVERYONEWHODOESNOTABIDEBYALLTHINGSWRITTENINTHEBOOKOFTHELAW, TOPERFORMTHEM.” 11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “THERIGHTEOUSMANSHALLLIVEBYFAITH.” 12 However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “HEWHOPRACTICESTHEMSHALLLIVEBYTHEM.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSEDISEVERYONEWHOHANGSONATREE”— 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15 Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. 16 NowthepromiseswerespokentoAbrahamandtohisseed.Hedoesnotsay, “Andtoseeds,”asreferringtomany,butrathertoone, “Andtoyourseed,”thatis,Christ.17WhatIamsayingisthis:theLaw,whichcamefourhundredandthirtyyearslater,doesnotinvalidateacovenantpreviouslyratifiedbyGod,soastonullifythepromise. Galatians 3:10-17 (NASB)

2. The sin was not committed by the illegitimate child, but by the parent.

29 “In those days they will not say again, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children’s teeth are set on edge.’ 30 “Buteveryonewilldieforhisowniniquity;eachmanwhoeatsthesourgrapes,histeethwillbesetonedge. 31 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. 33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 “They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the LORD, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” 35 Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for light by day And the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; The LORD of hosts is His name: Jeremiah 31:29-35 (NASB)

3. Every child (legitimate or not) has been created and fashioned by God in the womb:

14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; 16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained forme, When as yet there was not one of them. 17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You. Psalm 139:14-18 (NASB)

4. Jephthah was the son of a prostitute (Judges 11:1), and he is listed in the “hall of faith” (true believers) in Hebrews 11:32.

32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, Hebrews 11:32 (NASB)

5. In the Old Testament those who were Canaanites were to be annihilated, totally wiped out (Exodus 23:23; Deuteronomy 7:1-6; Joshua 11:7-11). And yet in the New Testament we find an account of a Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:22-28 who asked God to deliver her daughter from a demon, and our Lord commended her for her great faith and also granted her request.

6. Ammonites and Moabites were prohibited from entering into the Tabernacle and Temple (Deuteronomy 23:3-4). Indeed, it was Ruth, a Moabite, who becomes a woman in the Messianic Line (Ruth 4:13-22).

Notice that under the New Covenant those once excluded are now included in the blessings of God for those who trust Him:

1 Thus says the LORD, “Preserve justice and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come And My righteousness to be revealed. 2 “How blessed is the man who does this, And the son of man who takes hold of it; Who keeps from profaning the sabbath, And keeps his hand from doing any evil.” 3 LetnottheforeignerwhohasjoinedhimselftotheLORDsay, “TheLORDwillsurelyseparatemefromHispeople.”Norlettheeunuchsay, “Behold,Iamadrytree.”4ForthussaystheLORD, “TotheeunuchswhokeepMysabbaths,AndchoosewhatpleasesMe,AndholdfastMycovenant,5TothemIwillgiveinMyhouseandwithinMywallsamemorial,Andanamebetterthanthatofsonsanddaughters;Iwillgivethemaneverlastingnamewhichwillnotbecutoff.6 “AlsotheforeignerswhojointhemselvestotheLORD,ToministertoHim,andtolovethenameoftheLORD,TobeHisservants,everyonewhokeepsfromprofaningthesabbathAndholdsfastMycovenant;7EventhoseIwillbringtoMyholymountainAndmakethemjoyfulinMyhouseofprayer.TheirburntofferingsandtheirsacrificeswillbeacceptableonMyaltar;ForMyhousewillbecalledahouseofprayerforallthepeoples.” 8 The Lord GOD, who gathers the dispersed of Israel, declares, “Yet others I will gather to them, to those already gathered.” Isaiah 56:1-8 (NASB)

7. Jesus makes it clear that Gentiles are going to be blessed. It is the Jews who strongly resist this in Luke 4:16ff.

8. In the New Testament we find numerous indications that God delights to save sinners, even – perhaps especially – the worst of sinners:

9 As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He *said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him. 10 Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining atthetable in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “Itis not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. 13 “But go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRECOMPASSION, ANDNOTSACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:9-13 (NASB)

15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that ChristJesuscameintotheworldtosavesinners,amongwhomIamforemostofall. 16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:15-16 (NASB)

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NASB)

20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not cometo know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God. 30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written, “LETHIMWHOBOASTS, BOASTINTHELORD.” 1 Corinthians 1:20-31 (NASB)

37 And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining atthetable in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, 38 and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.” 41 “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 “When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” 44 Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 “You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. 46 “You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. 47 “For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” 49 Those who were reclining atthetable with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” 50 And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7:37-50 (NASB); See also John 8:3-11

Here’s the good news. No one is ever too far gone, too sinful, for God to save through faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus on the cross of Calvary, where He took the punishment we deserve for our sins and gives us His righteousness in its place. And the greater our sins that are forgiven, the greater the glory He gets.

While one can never be too sinful to save, one can be too good (in their own eyes) to be saved. That’s what Jesus meant when He said He came to save sinners, and not the righteous (in their own eyes). The gospel is good news because it brings hope to lost sinners. And in truth, that’s everyone, whether they know it or not:

9 What then? Are we [Jews] better than they [Gentiles]? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 10 as it is written, “THEREISNONERIGHTEOUS, NOTEVENONE; 11 THEREISNONEWHOUNDERSTANDS, THEREISNONEWHOSEEKSFORGOD; 12 ALLHAVETURNEDASIDE, TOGETHERTHEYHAVEBECOMEUSELESS; THEREISNONEWHODOESGOOD, THEREISNOTEVENONE.” 13 “THEIRTHROATISANOPENGRAVE, WITHTHEIRTONGUESTHEYKEEPDECEIVING,” “THEPOISONOFASPSISUNDERTHEIRLIPS”; 14 “WHOSEMOUTHISFULLOFCURSINGANDBITTERNESS”; 15 “THEIRFEETARESWIFTTOSHEDBLOOD, 16 DESTRUCTIONANDMISERYAREINTHEIRPATHS, 17 ANDTHEPATHOFPEACETHEYHAVENOTKNOWN.” 18 “THEREISNOFEAROFGODBEFORETHEIREYES.” 19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. 21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. Thiswas to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, Isay, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3:9-26 (NASB)

1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, itis the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:1-10 (NASB)

5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:5-7 (NASB)

There is no better news for unworthy sinners (that’s all of us) than the good news of the gospel.

Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. in 1971. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation.
Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i... More